New Delhi: Much to the disappointment of protesting ex-servicemen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today did not give a specific timeline for the implementation of 'One Rank One Pension', even as he stressed that talks were in final stages to work out the nitty-gritty.

Addressing the nation on the 69th Independence Day, Modi limited himself to giving assurance that the government has 'in-principle' accepted the demand for OROP and it is working out the modalities.

Not far from Red Fort, where he addressed the nation, ex-servicemen sitting on 62nd day of relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, watched PM Modi's speech keenly on a large LCD screen but switched it off the moment his brief OROP mention ended.

Terming the soldiers as a strength, treasure and energy of the country, PM Modi accepted that despite his coming to power, the solution for the long-delayed OROP issue has not been found yet.

Pointing out that many governments have come and gone for years and the OROP issue came before each one of them, PM Modi said the OROP has been in-principle accepted by his government but talk are still on with various stakeholders.

"Every government has given small promises but the issue has not been resolved. Even after I came, I have not been able to do it till now. Today, I am assuring my soldiers once again... in-principle OROP has been accepted by us but talks with stakeholders are on," he asserted in his Independence Day address.